Prince Mohammed ranks 8th in Forbes most powerful people list

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been ranked eighth in the Forbes 2018 list of "The World's Most Powerful People".

Prince Mohammed, 32, has been leading the Kingdom's economic diversification measures under the Vision 2030 initiative. He has been instrumental in reforms like bringing cinemas to the Kingdom after a 35-year hiatus and allowing women to drive cars. 

Topping the list for the first time ever is Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China, after China’s congress amended its constitution in March, broadening his influence and eliminating term limits.

Xi's rise to the world's most powerful person unseats Russian president Vladimir Putin (#2), who held the top spot for an unprecedented four consecutive years.

Just a year into his term, US President Donald Trump is placed third, given he is the "Commander in Chief" of the world's greatest economic and military power.

The fourth most powerful person in the world happens to be the most powerful woman: German chancellor Angela Merkel.

Jeff Bezos, the founder and chief executive, Amazon, is placed fifth, followed by Pope Francis and Bill Gates, co-founder, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation taking the sixth and seventh position.

Narendra Modi, Indian prime minister, is placed ninth in the Forbes list with Larry Page, chief executive officer, Google taking the 10th position.